Alex Ferguson admits he feels for the managers who find themselves right in the spotlight after a torrid month for the men in charge.

Former Manchester United skipper Roy Keane is believed to be the latest casualty after Ipswich called a press conference this morning. A place in the Carling Cup semi-finals appears not to have been able to save him after a woeful run of league results.

Ferguson's own son Darren was sacked by Preston last month and on Wednesday night, four Premier League bosses found themselves under pressure, including Roy Hodgson, whose Liverpool side take on United in the FA Cup at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Aware of the sensitive nature of the situation, Ferguson has opted not to get too heavily involved, instead placing his trust in League Managers Association chief executive Richard Bevan to continue his impressive work in defending the men at the helm.

But the Scot did accept it is a difficult time for the industry he has made such a success of.

"We are in a situation where managers are getting fired or being threatened with getting fired, so there is no point in even discussing it," he said.

"It is a very difficult industry nowadays.

"I feel for the managers who are under pressure and the ones who have lost their jobs.

"But the LMA are the proper people to talk about it.

"They are doing a fantastic job and are representing the managers absolutely brilliantly."